‘The nightmare is finally over’, says Haneef’s family

“The family has decided to put behind the past and offer prayers to the almighty for clearing Haneef’s name,” she said.

Recounting Haneef’s ordeal who was picked up in July 2007 by the Australian Federal police at Brisbane airport when he was on his way to India to be with his wife and new born daughter, she said “during those days, every minute appeared to be one long year of trial and tribulation”.

Haneef, 28, was kept in detention for three weeks only to be exonerated of the terror charges but his work visa was cancelled by the government on “character grounds”, a decision quashed by the Australian judiciary later.

“But even in those trying moments, we were deep inside convinced that Haneef could do no wrong. There was never a moment of doubt in our minds, all we knew was that he was wrongly framed and he must be cleared of the charges,” Niloufer said.

Haneef, who along with his family is currently in Dubai where the doctor is pursuing studies and working, apparently told his family that the police knew of his innocence but took their own time in dropping the probe against him.

“The truth has finally emerged” and “it is a testimony that the almighty has been with us all the time”, she said. On his plans to return Australia, she said the family is opposed to the idea but Haneef will have to make the final decision. Meanwhile, Haneef’s daughter Hania who has now turned one, she said.